Excavating machine



Jan, 6, 1925.

/M M Qz I ATTORNEYS i Jan. 6, 1925.

' 1,522,078 C. F. RAYBURN EXCAVATING MACHINE Filed Feb. 24, 192], 3 .Sheets--Sheerl 2 ATTORNEYS C. F. RAYBURN EXCAVATING MACHINE Find Feb. 24, 1921 s sheets-Sheet :s

//MW p lmatented '.lan. ti, i925,

aan ortica,

Application filed, February 2a, 1921.

To all w from t may mc y concern.'

Be it known that I, CHiuuinsF. Barnum?,

operated from a distance by means ot a drag line, and is suspended during its journeys and operations on another line known as a slack-cable, or operated suspended troni a hoorn ot derrick or crane and hence operated as a circle dragl line excavator, and has reference more particularly to that type in which the digging and dumping are ac` complished without the use oi tripping mechanism.

iin object oit my invention is to provide an excavating" machine that performs three distinct and simultaneous actions in the 0peration otdigging, oiibeing' lifted out, and when dumping.

another object of the invention is to provide an excavating` device by which dumping` can be done very speedily. y y

Anotherobject is to provide an encavating,- machine that cleans itselt by and during the diunping action.

A-ruother object is to produce an excavatinnl machine that may be dumped at any point, at any speed, and at the will of the operator without the aid oi auxiliary de vices on the cable.

"With these and other objects in view my invention consists in certain 'features of construction, arrangement and' combination ot parts as will hereinafter be fully described and pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accon'ipanying' drawings in which- Figure l is a side elevation showing' travel ing' and digging position of the excavator.

Figure 2 :is a side view showing1 the final dumping and returning position.

Figure 3 is a rear end elevation, and

Figure l5 is a front end elevation.

Figure 5 is a side elevation showing; relativo position ot' parts when in digging operation.

ln the present embodiment ci' my invention, the excavator as a whole is supported by a suitable slaclecable A said cable be-y senai no. laurea.

ing anchored at one end to a suitable dead man, thence passing over a block at the top ot a mast, and its other end connected to the drum ci a hoisting engine.

A `carriage is so mounted as to travel on the cable and includes a longitudinal center tie-bar l made up ot two inwardly turned channel bars having a hardwood timber between them. rlhis tie-bar constitutes the backbone of the carriage and to its front ends and the center ot its sides are secured two' irregular shaped forward brackets 2 which extend upwardly and downwardly and at angles to the center tie bar l. Between the upper ends oit said brackets is journaled the liront carriage traveling wheel or pulley l which is grooved as shown, and between the lower ends of said brackets 2 is journaled the grooved carriage fulcrum pulley 7.

Extending across these brackets 2 at their front ends and on their outer surfaces, channel iron braces 8 are secured at obtuse angles to the longitudinal center or" the bar l, the purpose ot said braces being to ladd strength to forward braces 2 and to provide securing' means 'tor the oil casting boxes c and Zi', these boxes lubricating respectively the fulcrum pulley l and traveling wheel 4l.

The rear brackets 3 which are irregular in shape are secured to the rear and the middle ot thetie bar 'l at the sides thereof; the brackets 3 are made secure to the center tie bar below their centers and their lower end portiers 8 or are bent outwardly so that they will assist the carriage to rest in upright position when the excavator is digging; and also `tor the purpose ot allowing,- connectingchains ll' to run in the grooved periphery ot tulcrum pulleys 6.

Between the ends ot upper parts of rear brackets 8 and above the longitudinal cen ter tie bar 1 is journaled the grooved wheel `5 which the rear travelimgr wheel ot' the carriage. Below the center tie bar l and between the lower extended leg portions 3y is secured the rear lower carriage bracey 32, see Fig-r. The brace fills the space formed by the outwardly extending," end portions 3"A and is secured to the lower side of theV center bar l. at .its middle or thereabout, and is also secured to the rear of the center tiehar '1. between rear carriage brackets 3 as shown in Figure 3.

To rear carriage brackets tl and forming an obtuse tangle to the center tie bar l, the

'rear channel iron braces 10` are secured, the purpose of'said braces being to strengthen the rear carriage brackets 3 and the rear part of the center tie-bar. They also provide means by which oiling' casting C may be secured for oiling the rear carriage traveling wheel 5.

Channel iron braces 12 extend between channel iron brackets 8 and 10 flush with thesides of said brackets and parallel with the center tiesbar with their faces flush with the outer .surface of the forward carriage brackets 2 and rear carriage brackets 3, and are secured in such relation for the purpose of strengthening the center tie-bar and the central portions'of forward and rear brackets asVK shown in Figure 1.

llilxt'ending across the space at the outer upper face of brackets 2 and the outer upper face `of brackets 3, and between front braces 8 and rear carriage braces 10 are braces 9 which are secured in such position; the purpose of the braces 9 is to strengthen both the forward and rear carriage brackets at their upper ends, and to relieve strain on the center tie bar 1.

To the sides of the rear carriage braces 3 which extend outwardly and downwardly in the same plane as the rear carriage legs are secured brackets 11 within which are mounted .the fulcrum pulleys 6.

The bucket which constitutes an important and material feature of my invention comprises a bottom wall 28, side walls 2'?, and a rear wall 29, the bottom wall being provided with teeth 31 `which are secured to the front end of the bottom wall, and it should be noted that the side walls 27 eX- tend Vwell vbevond the bottom wall at the front and .well beyond the ends of the teeth 31,;as shown in Figure 1, the purpose being to obtain leverage.

The side walls 27 are connected at their upper front ends by a channeled cross bar 38; lat its middle this bar has cut away a portion ofthe forward and rearward sides between which are mounted two upright braces 34 Iand `riveted securely to the sides of and bottom of said cross piece 33.

A grooved fulcrum pulley 13 is journaled between ,the two upright braces 3st. To the outer faces of side walls 27 are secured thereinforcing plates 27a7 27", 27C, 27d and 27e cand to .the bottom wall 28 at its two rear corners are secured the reinforcingshoes 30. ATo vthe upright rectangular rear wallsrof the bucket at the two upper outer corners are secured the bracket bumpers 18, andto the upper ends of these bumpers are secured bysuitable means the rear end of rods 15., said rods being suitably spaced from the associated walls of the bucket to provide clearance for the movement of links lyslidably mounted thereon.

The forward end of each rod 151s thread` ed through a guide bracket 1/1 and each rod is provided with a pair of lock nuts 15:l and 151 to properly hold the same against morcment with respect to the associated bracket 14 and also -to permit adjustable longitudinal movement of these rods.

A brace 26 extends across the upper part of the bucket andis secured to side walls 2T to the rear of the brackets 14, this brace serving the purpose of strengthening and stiifening the upper middle portion of the bucket and also provides a support for the carriage during digging operation to keep the fulcrum wheels out of the material bcing excavated,y and to form means on `which the rear of the carriage may rest when in digging position. The manner of connectingthe carrying member and the bucket or digging` member is by means of the connecting fulcrum chain 17 the forward ends of which are connected to the links 1G which have been put in place on rods 15. These chains extend upwardly and inwardly and pass over fulcrum wheels G and then pass downwardly and outwardly over the real' walls 29 and are connected by means of swivel links 19 to the stationary shackles or clips 20 securely fastened to the outer surface of rear walls 29 at the lower ontcicorners thereof. A drag-line or hauling cable is connected to a swivel 21 and to tht` swivel is connected the chain 23 which passes over the carriage fulcrum pulley T downwardly and about the bucket fulcrum pulley 13; and then passes upwardly and is connected with the eye-bolt 24: which is suitably secured to the tie-bar 1 of the car riage.

The adjusting or lifting chain 23, has its one end attached to the under side of the carA riage by means of an eye bolt 2l secured in the tie-bar 1, thence passing downward and forward and about the fulcruln pulley lil carried by the bucket, thence upward and over the fulcruni pulley 7 depending from the forward end of the carriage thence for-- ward and having its other end connected to the link or swivel 21 secured to the hauling cable or drag line D. Said center or adjusting chain 28 serves three otiices. namely: as an adjusting chain to adjust the carriage relatively to the digging member or bucket, and keeping it so when the bucket is in diggingposition; as a pull line. as in Figure 1. and as a. dumping line.

The bridle chains 22, which must be somewhat shorter than chain 23 have their one end attached by a shackle 25, or other suitable fastenings, to the exterior of the front ends of the side walls 27 of the bucket, and their other end connected to said swivel 21. Said bridle chains serve one purpose as a loading medium. and are then put under tension.

lVhen being lifted and journeying to fill 'fill :uscente dumping point, the carriage and digging member are so connected at their respective fronts and rears that the strain exerted by the drana line will be exerted on the dificil-nit parts of the chain 2,3, the strain also falling' on the conntu'ztiup` chains, thus leading the bridle chains slack.

ldlith the strain new falling on the tenter chain, the forward end of the bucket moved upwardly and the bucket as a whole moves slightly rearwardly. rflic forward end of said member is lifted first and as the rear is elevated the links 16 seek the position as shown in Figure 1 due to a` strain exerted to connecting' chains.

l-laving' new fully described the construe` tion of my invention and the arrangement of its parts, l will now explain the manner of its operation. Assuming the bucket is in the digging position, as shown Figure 5 it will be noticed that it is sitting on the ground to be excavated, the carriage s1 ing` on it supported by the central brace 2G, the fulcruin j iulleys G resting ou the fulcrinn chains 17 lying across said brace and the fulcrru'n pulley i' resting on the adjusting' chain 23. To start digging; the operator begins to wind up the ('lragline l), hauling' it forward until it puts the bridle chains 22 under tension as shown in Figure 5, thereby dragging the bucket forward and filling it with earth. As soon as the bucket is filled, or shortly before, the operator begins winding up the cable A', thus raising it, and with it the carriage. As the carriage rises, the chains depending from it become taut and cause the bucket to rise also. At this point it will be noticed that the fulcruln pulleys 7 and 13 tend to part company, and continue to do so until the pull of the drag line is communicated to chain 23 and tension on t-he bridle 22 is released. which condition continues until the excavator ret'uri'is again te the dip'- ring position. lt will also here bc noticed that the exten t to which said pulleys 7 and 13 part company depends upon the length of the adjusting' chain. 23 relative to that of the bridle chains 9,2, the shorter the former' compared to the latter the closer will be the companienship during the journey and the higher will be the travelingl position. of the front of the bucket, and the less the danger of spilling;l the contents enroute. It will also be further noticed that as the tension due to the pull of the drag-line D is shifted from the bridle chains 22 to the ad justine' chain 23, said pulleys are being brought together thereby, the carriage is being drawn forward relatively to the bucket until the rear fulcruni pulleys of the former are approximately over the center of the latter, at the same time said rear fulcnum pulleys 6 are moving' forward relatively to the traveller-bars 15 and tuofo'ing at the fulcruin chains 17 with which they are in engagement, thus causing the traveller links 16 to slide forward on the traveller bar 15 until they strike the brackets 1t, at which time the several parts assume the position shown in Figure 1, which position maintained by continued pull on the dragdinc until the bucket has reached the proper' place for dumping, the slack-cable having;1 been gradually raised to the desired height determined by the operator, as the bucket has made its journey.

During` this journey, it should. be noticed, the center of gravity of the bucket and its load has been practically under the fulcrunfi pulleys 6, which constitute the main upper points of suspension, the load being thus nearly in balance, with but a small portion of it supported by the forward fulcruin pulley 'Z Vand the chain 2?. At the saine time the rea-r fulcruii'i chains 17 occupy oblique positions, sloping' rearwardly, downwardly and outwardly, thus tending to pull the bucket forwardly and upwardly as shown in Figure 1.

As soon as the luicket has reached the point for dumping, the operator releases the pull on drag'dine and the tension on the adjusting chain 23; the carriage erases to advance, owingl to the resistance of the slack cable, the bucket continues to advance owing to its momentum, shifting the center of gravity far forward of the point of suspension, the tension of the rear fulcrui'n chains aiding; the forward end of the bucket immediately falls because of the great unbalancing of the load, the traveller links 1.7 slip toward the rear of the traveler bars 15, thus letting the rear end of the bucket drop and hasteningl its fall to the vertical position as shown in Figure 2, in'which posi,- tion it immediately retreats down the slackcable to a point above the place of escavation.` the operator controlling the speed of return by suitable braking' means. its the bucket fell to the vertical position, its load, of course was discharged, the discharge beinn' rendered the more complete by thc action of the traveller links 16 in passing the bend in the travel]er-bars 15, an additional. jolt and lurch forward beine` given as the links 1G strike the bumper brackets 18, a series of vibrations being' set up in the bucket whereby any material that is inclined to adhere to its walls is shaken loose.

As soon as the bucket has retreated as far as desired, the operator causes a pull to be exerted on the drag-line causing' adjusting chain il (which new for a short space becomes a lifting' chain as well) to raise the new depciulingi` forward end of the bucket and brinujhig it to the horizontal position shown in Figijure 1, the bucket again retreating rearwardly relative to the carriage, the sliding links 16 again slipping' forward on the travelling-bars 15, the fulcrum chains 17 again assuming their tension and. oblique positions, as shown in Figure l, and the center of gravity of bucket being again brought under the rear fulcrum pulleys, whereupon. or just previously, the operator releases and lowers the cable until the bucket reaches the ground, the carriage again, rests upon the bucket, and the bucket is ready to be again drawn forward in the digging operation in the same manner as before, a cycle of operations having been completed.

With an excavating machine constructed as herein set` forth dumping can be accomplished at any point under the slack cable at the highest possible speed, and at the will of the operator from his position at the power end thereof.

The digging member or bucket will free itself from boulders, or other undigable, unseen objects by slacking off the drag line and raising slack cable. When undergoing such an operation the machine takes the dumping position.

l claim l. In an excavatingl machine, the combination with a. supporting cable, a traveling carriage thereon, said carriage comprising forward and rear brackets, and a central tie bar connecting the same, means at the upper ends of the forward and rear brackets for supporting the carriage on the cable, pulleys carried at the lower ends of said brackets, connecting chains passing over said pulleys for flexibly supporting a digging member or bucket, a pulley carried at the forward end of the digging member, traveller bars carried by the digging mem'- ber, chains passing over the pulleys at the lower end of the rear bracket, said chains having slidable connection at one end with said traveller bars, and flexibly connected at the other end to the rear of the digging member, and al drag line having flexible connection with the front of the digging member and the forward connecting chain.

2. In an excavating machine, the combination with a supporting` cable, a carriage traveling on said cable, a digging member or bucket, a drag line, a lifting and adjusting chain flexibly connected with said drag line, bridle chains flexibly connected at one end to the forward end of the digging member and at their opposite ends to said drag line, a fulcrum pulley carried at the forward end of the bucket, a fulcrum pulley carried at the forward lower end of the carriage, saidlifting and adjusting chain threading around said fulcrum pulleys and stationarily secured at its opposite end to the said carriage, traveller bars mounted on the side walls of the bucket and bumper brackets at the rear ends of said bars, obliquely mounted fulcrum pulleys carried at the rear lower end of carriage, and chains running over said fulcrum pulleys, one end of each of said chains slidably engaging the said traveller bars, and the opposite ends flexibly connected with the rear wall of the bucket at its lower corners.

ln an excavating machine in combination, a supporting cable, a trolley carriage supported thereon, said carriage comprising forward and rear convene-gent brackets and a center tie bar, a fulcrum pulley carried at the lower end of the forward lju'acket., and a pair of obliquely mounted fulcrum pulleys at the lower end of the rear braclnfxt, said list named pulleys disposed on opposite sides of longitudinal center of the carriage, a digging member or bucket comprising a rear wall, a bottom wall, and side walls, a fulcrum pulley' mounted at the central upper part of the front end of the bucket. traveller bars mounted on the upper ends of the side walls of the bucket, said bars extending rearwardly from approximately the longitudinal center of the side walls. over and beyond the rear ends of said side walls, and terminating `in abutments or bumpers, a lifting` and adjusting drag chain secured at one end to the carriage and weaving around the fulcrum pulleys at the toi ward ends of the carriage and bucket, and flexibly connected at its opposite, end to a drag line, fulcrum chains flexibly connected at one end to the rear 'alls of the bucket and extending convergently upwardly and over said obliquely mounted fulcrum pulleys at the lower ends of the carriage rear bracket, and slidably connected with the aforesaid traveler bars.

il. An excavating machine, in combination, a slack supporting cable, a carriage provided with wheels travelling on said slack cable, pulley carrying brackets at the front and rear ends of the carriage, said brackets convergently disposed with respect to each other, a digging member said digging meinu ber suspended from the carriage by a plurality of chain runs at its front end. and a pair of chains connections at its rear end, and adjusting means provided for leiigthening or shortening said pair of chains as substantially shown and described.

In an excavating machine, in combination, a slack supporting` cable` a carriage mounted to travel thereon, a fulcrum pulley at the front lower end of said carriage, and obliquely mounted fulcrum pulleys at the rear lower end of the carriage, a digging member comprising a rear wall, a bottom wall and side walls, a fulcrum pulley mounted at the center upper part of the front of the bucket, traveler bars mounted on the upper edges of the side walls. and said bars ezrrtending rearwardly from approximately the longitudinal center of side walls over and beyond the rear ends of said side walls terminating in abutments or bumpers, a lifting or center chain secured at one end to carriage and weaving around the tulcrum pulleys at the forward ends ot the bucket and carriage and flexibly connected at its opposite end 'to a drag line, fulerum chains `flexibly connected at one end to the rear lower outer corners ot rear wall and entending convergently upward and over said obliquely mounted lulcrum pulleys at lower ends ot rear brackets and slidably con nected to atoresaid tra eller bars whereby said digging' member' journeys in an irree'ir lar elliptical path to accomplish lthe `yertilerl excavartinp,` position as substantially shown and described.

6. ln an encaratingi machine, in combination, a slack supporting,l cable, a travelling` carriage thereon, said carriage comprising` 'front and rear brackets, a center tic-bar, suitable braces` at liront and rear carrying housings it'or pulley bearings, a longitudinal brace across the top, a horizontal brace between obliquely mounted. rear lower pulleys, chains :flexibly connectingi and supportingl a digging member on said carriage, said dip;- ging member comprising a rear wall, a bottom wall and side walls suitably braced at top, a lifting,` pulley at the center ot the upper liront end ot the bucket, and traveler bars secured te the upper side walls and en tendingI over the rear of the bucket, certain olf said connecting chains haring,i slidable connection with said traveler bars.

'l'. lin an excavating` machine, and in combination with a cable supported travelling` carriage provided with. suitable hauling or drag line connections and a depending' three pulley arrangement, a bucket flexibly suspended from said carriage and bearing,l at its forward end a supporting1 pulley, and at its rear end a pair oit traveller bars, one on either side, and provided at its 'forward end with a pair or chains, one on either side and having the one end connected to said bucket and the other end connected to said drap; line, bumper brackets connecting` said tray eller bars to said bucket, and chains connecting said three pulley arrangement with said supportinp` pulley and said trat/'eller bars.

ln an crearatingv machine, and in com bination a supporting1 cable, a digging mem ber suspended theretrom, carriage member comprieine` a pair ol forward brackets and a pair ott rearward brsiickets secured respectively to the tor-ward and rear ends ot a central tie ban .uid symmetrically disposed on either side thereo't, and extending upwardly and downwardly hereitroin, the depending1 portions oli said i ward brackets divergent outwardly and downwardly at oblique angles with the sides oit said central tie bar, a pair ot prooi/*cd pulleys journalled between. the upper ends or said forward and rearward pairs ol" brackets 'tor the suspension oit said carriage trom the impporting` cable, and in rolling,l contact therewith, grooyed pulley journalled between the lower ends oit said torward bra ckets, and havingl chain connection with the 'torward end ot said digging member and a suitable hauling cable, a pair ot symmetrically disposed tulcrum pulleys mounted on the lower ends of said diyerpgent portions oi said rearward brackets, and hai/inn1 chain connections with the rearward portion ot said digging; member.

9. lin an e:rcayating1 machine, the coinbi nation ot a 'trayelling carriage, meansl :tor supportinLe,` said carriage on an aerial slack cable, a di. member suspended from said carri* l, a trout l'ulcrum pulley depending,` trom the tront end ot said carriage, a pair ot symmetrically disposed iulcrum pulleys journalled one at either lower rear corner of said carriage, Variable and adjustable chain connection and suspension between said trout depending' :tulcruin pulley and the trout end ot said digging member, said chains connecting' with a suitable hauling` cable, and adjustable twin chain connections and suspension betweenl said pair ot rear tulcrum pulleys and the rear ward portion ot said dic'wing member.

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